Has anyone out there ever won, or heard of someone winning, a large cash or vacation prize off of the McDonalds Monopoly game?

Because I am convinced, unless someone chimes in to change my mind, that Mcee Dees is just telling us all that they have these fantastic prizes, so u should by all the greasy burgers and fries to get and peel the game pieces off the drinks and fries and stuff. But in all actuality they don’t ever have these “great” prizes, and therefore, never have to give large sums of money out to the public. It’s just a way to get people in to McDonalds. And occasionaly you win a medium fry or small McFlurry.

How’s that for conspiracy? Hahaha. I did just watch Zeitgeist, so yeah… Hahaha

11 Answers

I’m pretty sure they have to, by law, print and release at least one winning ticket for each prize, but they probably get away with it because so many are just thrown away. I doubt that they even purchase the prize until they have a winner.

A kid I know pulled the Jeep Cherokee winner when we were in high school. Instead of winning the Jeep, he was entered in a drawing with other “winners” and he lost. Good question, though…I never hear much about the winners. And @Lightlyseared I hope you spent it on fries!!!

I’ve never personally heard of anyone winning anything other than food. I did notice that if you win the million dollars, according to the rules you get $50,000 a year for 20 years with no interest. Not exactly enough to retire on or live the high life.

According to Wikipedia:
In 2000, the US promotion was halted after fraud was uncovered. A subcontracting company called Simon Marketing (a then-subsidiary of Cyrk), which has been hired by McDonald’s to organize and promote the game, failed to recognize a flaw in its procedures, and the chief of security, Jerome P. Jacobson,[1] was able to remove the “most expensive” game pieces, which he then passed to associates who would redeem them and share the proceeds. The associates “won” almost all of the top prizes between 1995 and 2000, including McDonald’s giveaways that did not have the Monopoly theme. The associates “netted” over $24 million. The scheme was uncovered when one of the participants informed on its ringleaders to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. While the fraud was perpetrated without McDonald’s knowledge, the McDonald’s Corporation voluntarily attempted to rectify the situation by issuing payouts to new (legitimate) winners, awarding five $1 million annuity prizes, and fifty $100,000 prizes over a five-day period.

While the fraud appeared to have been perpetuated by only one key employee of the promotion company, and not by the company’s management, eight people were originally arrested, leading to a total of 21 indicted individuals. The relationship between McDonald’s and Simon Marketing broke down in a pair of lawsuits over breach of contract, eventually settled out of court, with McDonald’s’ claim being thrown out and Simon receiving $16.6 million. Although McDonald’s was not involved in the fraud, it came under much criticism for what appeared to be lax oversight of the promotion company.
In 1995, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee received an anonymous letter postmarked Dallas, Texas, containing a $1 million winning game piece. Although game rules prohibited the transfer of prizes, McDonald’s waived the rule and is making the $50,000 annual payments] Investigations later indicated, and Jacobson himself admitted, that he had sent the winning piece to the hospital.

My Father back in ‘99 I think, went to Miami to visit my Grandfather that at the time had Alzheimer, so because of that he always wanted to go to McD’s to get his Happy Meal. My Dad bought a combo and won a trip to Disney World! Pretty sweet deal I must say.